Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Residents "will be consulted over speed limits"

Assembly Member Ken Skates has welcomed Denbighshire County
Council’s assurance that residents near Llangollen will be fully consulted over
changes to local speed limits.

Mr Skates, the Labour AM for Clwyd South, wrote to the authority’s
chief executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet two weeks ago to pass on his constituents’
concerns about proposals to reduce the current 60mph restriction over the
Horseshoe Pass.

Mr Skates said: “I have been contacted by several constituents in
Pentredwr who are worried about the potential knock-on effects implementing
speed restrictions on the Horseshoe Pass, and I have relayed these concerns to
the council in writing.

“The
worry is that a reduction on the new road could lead to even more drivers going
down behind the Ponderosa and using Pentredwr as a cut-through.

“Too
many drivers are already using that route and going dangerously fast on a far narrower
and steeper road, which has no footpaths. As well as obvious concerns about
increased traffic through Pentredwr, many residents have very real fears that
the increased use of the Old Horseshoe Pass could lead to a spike in
accidents.”

Dr Mehmet said the A542 was being looked at as part of a county-wide speed limit review
of all A and B roads. All local authorities in Wales are required to carry out
a similar project before the end of 2014.

He has assured Mr Skates that before any
recommendations of the speed limit review can be implemented, the council must
first undertake a statutory consultation exercise which will see initial talks
with county councillors and North Wales Police.

Only
if an agreement is reached at this first stage can the proposals then proceed
to public consultation with the community, when formal objections can be
lodged.

Mr
Skates said: “I’m pleased that Dr Mehmet has assured me he has noted the
concerns of residents of Pentredwr and these will be fully considered at the
consultation stage referred to. He has also indicated that the introduction of
traffic-calming in Pentredwr would be considered should the proposal for the
lower speed limit progress.”

Because
of current budget constraints, the earliest
Denbighshire County Council could begin the consultation is likely to be in
February or March.